Radial-play gauge



April 28, 13953 H. B. VAN DORN RADIAL-PLAY GAUGE 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Dec. 20, 1947 4 HORACE B. VAN DORN attorneys April 28, 1953 H B, VAN BORN 2,636,379

RADIAL-PLAY GAUGE Filed Dec. 20, 1947 2 SHEETS-I-SHEET 2 r '75 58 74% ii 69 79 57 i A 63 i 64 ZSnventor HORACE B. VAN DORN Patented Apr. 28, 1953 RADIAL-PLAY GAUGE Horace Bishop Van Dorn, New Britain, Conn., assignor to The Fafnir Bearing Company, New Britain, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application December 20, 1947, Serial No. 793,021

Claims.

My invention relates to an improved gaging instrument, particularly for use in the determination of radial play in antifriction bearings.

In antifriction bearings, especially those in which an inner and an outer ring are radially separated by antifriction elements, it has in the past been difiicult to determine with accuracy, on a production-line basis, the extent of radial play of the inner ring with respect to the outer ring. Previous methods and devices have required close and tiring attention by the operator or inspector, with the result that radial-play tolerances have had to be greater than is often desired.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to provide an improved gaging device of the character indicated.

' It is another object to provide an improved radial-play gage for antifriction bearings.

It is also an object to provide an improved gage thaf will be simple to operate and that will be relal vely non-fatiguing for the operator or inspector.

It is still another object to provide a gage of the character indicated which may be adapted with minimum difficulty to the radial-play gaging of a wide range of bearing sizes.

It is in general an object of my invention to provide a more reliable, accurate, and simple gage that will be easy to interpret and that will not be subject to loss of calibration for extended periods of time.

Other objects and various further features of the invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with, the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferre form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an instrument incorporating features of the invention and shown ready for use in the measurement of radia play in an antifriction bearing;

Fig. 2 is a diagram schematically illustrating control means for the device of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 3 is a partly sectionalized, partial assemplay in an antifriction bearing. In use, and in a preferred form of apparatus, a gaging element is arranged to support one ring of an antifriction bearing, and the other ring of the bearing is displaceably urged on a radial axis so that a first limiting relation of elements is obtained. The other ring is then urged on the same axis but in the opposite direction until a second limiting relation of elements is obtained. The relative displacement of the bearing rings for these two relationships is noted, and this displacement represents radial play in the bearing.

In the preferred form to be described, the inner bearing ring is loosely mounted ona plug, and air gages are employed to measure the displacements of the inner ring and of the outer ring with respect to the gage member. Reversibie fluid-pressure operated means serves to load the outer bearing ring with respect to the gage member so as to eifect the above-noted displacements. The air gages are air outlets or orifices, one of which is adapted to be more constricted as the outer bearing ring is urged in one direction, and the other of which is adapted to be more constricted as the outer bearing ring is moved in the opposite direction. One of the gages responds essentially to displacement of the inner, bearing ring, and the other of the gages responds essentially to the sum of displacements of both the outer and inner bearing rings. Pressure readings noted for both loading positions contain factors representing looseness of fit of the inner ring on the plug, whereas only one of these reading contains a factor representing radial play in the hearing. The difference between the two readings is, of course, the radial play inthe bearing.

Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown in application to a complete self-contained gaging'instrument, with a housing or frame including afront plate or platform ill between spaced side members I I. To the rear, the housing slopes upwardly at a panel'lZ for the accommodation of various indicating dials l3-l4-I5 to be observed by the operator. In the form to be described, the entire device operates from a single supply of air, which is preferably filtered, and the inlet connection may be made on one of the side panels H, as at the elbow IE. The bearing to be tested or measured for radial play is supported more or less centrally and at the front of the gage, and controls 20-2! for reversibly loading the test bearing are also conveniently accessible at the front.

As indicated above, I employ a single source of compressed air for supplying both the loading and the gaging systems of my instrument. To supply the gage, the inlet supply from pipe is diverted through a T-connection to a handcontrolled regulating valve ll, which may be operated by a knob 11 accessible externally of the assembled instrument. The function of the valve II .is to supply a constant-pressure "outlet, independent of transient fluctuations in-supplyline pressure.

The regulated pressure at the outlet of valve I! may be displayed on an indicating dial l4 and may, therefore, be constantly monitored by the operator. For a purpose which will later be clear, I employ'an additional constriction in the gage line,-"an'd*this constric-- tion is preferably an adjustable valve -18. The valve I8 may be a compensating throttleor adjustably support bosses 4344, having axes to be aligned with the central plane of the test bearing to be calibrated. In order to calibrate a number of 'sizes of'test bearings, the loading needle valve and preferably has a control knob or handle l8 accessible at the front of the assembled instrument. The pressure adjusted by the'needle valve (8 may be viewed on any desired pressure or-fiow' indicator such asa manometer, rotameter, or the like, but in the form shown pressure is --read on the dial 13 'of a Bourdon gage -by observing the motion of the indicator needlel3fl. .For-a purpose which will also later beclear thedial- I3 is shown further to include two-manually adjustable pointers or needles 2 2--2-3 with externally accessible control knobs 22-f- 1 3. The pointers -22-23 are preferably so mounted that an'adjustment of, say, the needle 22 by the knob ;22' will not-be disturbedby a manualsetting of the-pointer 23 when the knob 23" is turned.

. Inloading the outer ring of the test bearing pressures, depending upon the loading specified for various sizesof bearings. Pressure in the outlet of valve29 may be considered constant for all practicalpurposes and may be supplied tothe head end .30 orto the tail endi3i of cylinder 2'! by selective operationof valve means 32-33, respectively. In the form shown, the knob at the front of the machine may be de- 'press'edto operate the valve 32 and the knob 2-! maybe depressed to operate the valve 33. Thus,v

it will 'be clear that upon pressing the knob 20 pressure fluid is admitted to'the head end of 'cylirid'er'21so as'to urge the outer bearing ring to the left with'respect to the gage l9 (i. e. 'to" the "left ."in 'the s'ens'e of "the drawings) and "that when-the knob 2 I is depressed, the outer bearing ring is "urged in the 'opp'ositedirection jtoproduce'thesame loading force.

l In"Fig."3,'the 'loadingcl'amp will be seen, in theform shown," to comprise a relatively rigid bar '35 running transversely of .the' instrument belowthe frame plate IOQ-andto be mounted for :relatively frictionless displacement on a generally transverse axis. Themounting'iorpbar35 may so a include two spaced; br acke s; ,3 ,-31.1-.secu ed to 216 element'24 is carried at the end of an adjustable threaded member in threaded engagement with the boss 44. A handle 46 on member 45 serves to position the element 24, and a locl ing ring-or nut 41 may tightly secure the adjustment.

, ;;On--:t he otherside of theinstrument the loading {element 2-5 is shown similarly .mounte.d,fifor adjustment by meansofa handle-48 on athreaded member ;49 threaded into -the boss 43. .Alocking ring 50 serves to hold adjustments. made by turningthehandle-548. In order to assist .in centering the outerbearinggring 39 on the .axis of thrust produced by the loading elements 24-45, I prefer that one of these elements .'25 be provided ,with spaced, feet -5 l-' 52 -so that the bearing ring 39 may be clamped or supported at three points about its periphery; the 'feet tit-52 :arepreferablyspaced by a distance equal to or greater than the span between two adjacent anti-friction elements ofthe bearing being measured. Since theloading element 25 shouldlnot be rotated upon adjustment of the. handle '48, I provide thrust-sustaining bearing means 53 between the-handle 48 and theloading element 25 to-permitrelative.rotation of these parts; it will .be understood that the bearing means 53 may perform the-additional function of permitting the loading element 25 a slight swivellingaction, so as toallow the-outer bearing ring39 Osseeka-positionsuch that theinner andouter recess fall in thesameplane when loading forces are applied.

As -indicated generally above, the gage member ls may oomprisea block-54 having a radially directed orifice or opening 55 to face an inner part- 0f the innerring 56 of the bearing to be calibrated. The block 54 is preferably cylindrical-and in the form of a plug easily and yet relativelyclosely to fit the inner bearing ring .56; the block-54 may thus besaid radially loosely to support .theinner bearing ring-56. In communication with the opening 55 is a further opening 51,. preferably onan axis parallel to the. axis 2f opening 55 but facing inthe opposite direcion.

While the opening-55 is positioned-tobeconstriated more or less by the relative proximity of theinner bearingringfidthe opening 51 is positioned to be constricted-more or less in accordance with displacements of the outer bearing ring 39. In the formshown,the-second opening 5 'I, is constricted by -a displaceable member in the form of a ring 58,-;preferably displaceable only on anaxis parallel tothe loading, iae. parallel to the axis of screws 45-49. The displaceable member ,58 may-include a partoverstanding the opening .51 and-anotherpart-in the=form of 'a finger 59 projecting to engage the outer. bearing ring 39, ,preffirably on the loading-axis.

I. If: desired,;the;displaceable ring 58 and with. it

the fingersa, "may :be mountedon'theg'age' l9-by a; spring 'suspension'similar to thatiemployed for afi'ange 62 formed in the'body of the gage l9. To

prevent damage due to external abuse of the resilient suspension members 68-61 guard brackets- 69-64 may be secured on the fiange 62 adjacent the strips 60-6l.

I In orderthat'the gage l9may be readily adaptable" to a -number of different sizes of bearing, the body of the gagemay be formed essentially of two parts. The first part may comprise theplug member-54 which has already been'described,

and thispart 54 ispreferably" one of a number of special plugs closely'to'fit 'a number of testbearing sizes. The first part or plug 54 may be seated replaceably on a second part,in the form ofa base 65; and it may be secured to the base65" by acentral screw 66, which may be drilled (as at 61) to provide an internal air passage." An annular groove 68 serves as a manifold to join the gage opening 51 with the central passage 61' through a transversely extending hole 69. In like manner, an annular groove 10 at the upper end of bolt 66 provides a manifold for distribution of'air to the other gage opening 55, via a transverse'hole H. In the form shown, the assembly is rendered air tight by mean-s of a plug 12 driven into the upper end of passagefi'l and by means of gaskets 13--14 between the head'of bolt 66 and the plug member 54, and between plug member 54 and the base 65, respectively: i '1' In ordertorender my gage more adaptable to various sizes of test bearings, I provide means for adjustablypositioning the finger 59 with respect to' the displaceable ring 58 upon which it is mounted. The displacement action'is preferably such as to maintain contact of finger 59 with the outer bearingring 39 always substantially on the axis of loading, that is, substantially on the axis of screws 45-49. In the form shown, the finger having side members 11 on finger 59 serves to maintain Well guided alignment of the finger 59- with the top of bracket 15. For adjustment purposes, asemicylindrical groove in the bottom of the channel onfinger 59 may be threaded for a 'screw'18, which in turn may be'formed with wrench-engaging fiats'19 milled on the extended end thereof. Opposite the threaded groove on the finger 59, thebracket 15 may be hollowed out, as at88, to accommodate the screw-T8 but not to engage the same except at 8|, where a projection engages an annular groove formed deeper than the threads 'of-- screw 18. It-will be clear that upon wrench adjustment, as at 19, the finger 59 may be displaced as desired along the bracket 15. Once a desired adjustment has been obtained, a securing screw '82 may be tightened so as to clamp bracket 15 and-the finger 59 together. In the form shown, securing screw 82 is threaded into the finger 59 through a slot 83 in bracket'l5. A better appreciation of my gage instrument may be had from a description of a typical calibration or measurement of radial play for a mam ball bearing of the type shown in the drawings. A plug element 54 is first selected freely to accommodate the inner bearing ring 56 of the specimen, and this plug-54 is securely mounted upon the base 65 by'means of the bolt 66; The standards 48-4! are-then adjusted for height so thatthe axes of screws -49 willbe aligned'more'or'les's on the" plane which includes the racec'enters'ofthe test bearing. Adjustment is then made'with' nut 41 and handle 46, and with nut and handle 48, -t0 assure that the loading -members:'-2425 clear the ring 39 slightly, that is, preferably with out stress on the standards 40-4 I The displaceable collar or ring 58 is preferably normally positioned, eccentrically (to the left, in the sense of the drawings) of the base member 65;.in.this

positionthe springs 68-6! may be balanced or ateasewhen no bearing isibeing measured, and a=maximum clearance may be: observedxbetween collar 58 and base 65 at thelocation of orifice 5'1. When: the bearing to be measuredis slipped down onto-plug 54, the finger 59 :(by virtue of the ad-: justment of screw 18) is urged to the right to fiex springs 686l and to positioncollar 58 in aconstricting but spaced relation with orifice 51.; the" finger. 59 maythusi be constantly urged -witha:

lightbut positive force. against theouter ring39: of: the bearing to be measured. Thus, the posi-.

tioning offinger 59 may automaticallybe such as to .permitfinger59 resilientlyto follow Ortrack the movementv of the outer bearing ring 39 from one extremeloading position .to the other, and' throughout this movement the displaceable ring.

58 is preferably always at least slightly spaced.

;- ing member 24 squeezing the test bearing against the plug 354 of the. gage, l9.; .Fig. 5 shows, with some exaggeration, the relationship thatwill then obtain'for thetest-bearing elements withrespect to. parts, of the gage. It will-be seen that the upper gage opening is spaced a maximum. distance from ,the;inner. surface; of the inner ring 56 and that, therefore, the air spilled through'the orifice 55 will be at a maximum flow, so. as to provide afirst-indication .or reading. on thedial of the meter l3. By suitable adjustment ,'.of thesupply pressure, as by the handle .IB'ofneedle valve I8, the needle I3," on the meter. l3 may be adjustedlto. read-zero, as shown. Itiwill be. appreciated that, while the opening 55'xhas been caused to discharge into a space representing-a clearance between a plug 54 and the .inner ring 56, the outer ring 39 has urgedv the'finger 59 to the right to cause the displaceable ring 58. into amaximum: constrictin position opposite gage opening; 51, although, as previouslysuggested, the opening 51 may neverbe completely closed oif.- The pressure noted on the dial I3 will be understood to be an indication. of the maximum air spilledthrough opening 55 and of; the minimum air spilled through opening,5'|';,this' pres-, sure may, therefore,-be'said to represent the clearance between the plug 54 and: the inner bearing ring 56, plus the minimum radial spacingiof ring=58from opening 51. 1 'Having adjusted valve l8 to bringthe needle .13? of-"meter l3 to zero,the other control key 20 may be depressed to operate the valve 32 and thusito reverse the loading. With such loading. the gage and bearing parts will assume relative positions like those shown exaggerated in Fig; 6. The plug 54 will now be in close abutment with the inner ring 56 so as to close off the opening 55, and the finger 59 will have been displacedto the left under the action of springsj6'9 '6 as per inittedb'ythe leftward displacement of the-outer bearingeringide. (qthe pmngs; ill-4i! havingwbeem prestressed by finger .59? when the test bee-rin wasl-mserted. on: pl11g5i54=):.

L The: actual displaeementnof the: outer bearing; ring; aairom (the firstedescribed limiting position (Pie. @to; the second-described.limiting mosttion: :(Fig. 6 :will :be' appreciated as being. not;

only the radial clearance: tbetween. l plug. a 54;- and. inner ring 156,. but. alsovthe radial play between. the Shearing: ringsnSQ-Sfiisand antifniction. elements ztherebetweem :heitward displacement (if-thefinger-59z :permitteckthexdisplaceablamem-- be: 58; :toramove;.tonthezleftand .thus additi'ona lly tmopen-theiorificenfillz :by an incrementalamount representing the actual displacement 10f theionter beeringt' ring .319; plus-the clearance; betweenxplugf Stand imerringzifi; ullhe needle ii on dial: 13.

will, therefore, indicate-a pressure representingthenhangein flow through:thelairepassagecsysa teml'gof xthei' gage I ea. :Havingzadjusted: the; needle i- 3fi'ito read-zero for the:.Eig..;5 relation of parts the-needlel3z'i may .(dnthe Fig 6 relationiof parts) be direct reading of .theeactual: radial play in the testibearing; because thezclearance representing loosenessof fit between plug. 54 and .inneribearing'iring' dfi .(and'alsorepresenting minimumspam: ing'. at ring .58 .irom opening 51) has occurred in both loading positions, and this clearance is in eflectz-subtracted out in the. described methodof measuring radial play...

..'If is not desired to adjustthevalve 8 for "a zero reading. on dial 13 for each test bearing, then radial play may be determined with almost equal facility :by' setting the hand pointeri? .to

coincide 'withsneedle W" for one loading'condition tsay, the Fig.5 relationship) ,land the hand point- 121-123 may be adjusted over the needle 1 3 for the other loading condition (Fig; 6 relationshlpl', The. observed spread between hand pointers: 12-33 will then represent radial play mithertest bearing, as will be clear.

vMy measuring instrument has been described particularly for use in measuring radial play,

is clear that other 'operations-rmay be perlormed more or less concurrently with the measurement of radial play.. For example, "bearings m'aylbe ;.assembled 'on the instrument .by first placing matched inner and outer bearing "rings 5G-3SI;over the plug fidand by'then inserting a set 16f matched antifriction elements of size intended to the matched inner and outer rings 563.9. Toaassi'st in this assemblingoperation an annular tray 86 may be seated against-a shoulder '8T.=in thetplu'g 54; and the tray- 85 is preferably-" 0E su'fficient thickness to support the race .ofthe innerbearing ring 55in proper alignment with the gage orifice 55. The tray idfi mayhave an outer retaining wall so as to prevent loss .of stray balls and "to hold the matched antifriction --elementst=85 ready for assembly into the inner and outer bearing rings-and this outerwall may betcnt :awamas at 87,:to accommodate theIoadingzelements whichlmustlengage theoutervbearing ring 39. In the/first lassemblyof a set \of matched elements 285 in :matched rings Ellis-+39 does not-produce a desired minimum :radial splay, .a: second :set of matched elements .815 may she: assembled with the-'same'rings 56-39,..and tested with, :minimum delay, as will be clear,

In order to speed up the assembly and measurement techniquesdescribed, I-provide azguard llingoy loop 88 between :feet ii-520i loading element 25, and the ring 88 preferably extends over upwardly extending andfbackwardly sloping projection SB- on finger 59. lit-will be 8 appreciated. the; inaction or projection. Ms be ltosengaeelthe outer bearing; ring Sea-suit: isinsertedwer-cneeaeeand seni en ms fingerrfisartozthe niehtliniordearproperly-andgrade uallyto stress the suadngswfinafiig aspreviously described. *Thering; or :loooi 8-8. menelyisa'feetuazds.

projection; 129: against; eshock whichothenwise' miehtzzcause-rloss tot-calibration.atscrew 18:.

certain types: of precision bearings, test specifications may require thatttheradialsplay" measunement :hemade. with: the: of. the test bearing horizontalanda'with til-cladding axis;;lin.

the; =vertical plane; oi the .balll aand. .racecenters. My instrument may-aneadily conform;

to ekindaof --specification' bymerely tipping:

I maywemploy :a 'needlee-tyoezbleed valve. or, gravitycompensator :84 l-Ei'gg. .2) one .ofj the supplylines. to the loading; cylinder 2-1. .In the form. shown, :such- :bleed means .84 preferably .in the. supply linev of value 'so'thazt reduced loading. pressures may-he: applied in the down direction; as ccmparediw ith those. applied ill-.ethe up direction. The .difierence. in loading prestsures applicable at -.thelhead and tail ends-. of cylinder .21- should be: such that loading .forces on the antiinictionrelcmeutsiii of the test-beak log are equal. in bath directions and: this. ad-. justment may clearly be made by means of the i adjustable bleedor gravity compensaton While in theform shown the-testbeari-ng.has been described :as being loosely-fitted over the plus ease element 5 it willzbe clear that other arrangements may he employed :to obtain isimilarresults, using thelsame'relati-ve motions and. forces. For example .theinner :bearing ring *56 could :be; fixedly held .asbyaneexpanding collet or chuck tor by Jen-ugly :fitting the :test. bearingon the .plug 54 :so as effectively .llO'(7 QS& .0fi opening :55 for loading positions-J and. the same apparatus new utilizing only the. gage opening M) "WQtlld produce differential, pressure. readings indicative [of radial, play. Also, with the samerelatiue=motions,;.the outer bearing ring as could .bethe alooselytorsfixedly supported ring, and loading forces wouldiebe applied to. the inner ring preferably Lag-am on a. diametra-l. 3X13 of, the-bearing.

.lt he. appreciated. that I have described an ingenious instrumenhfor the .reeasuirement-of radial pl-ay in abeari ng. The-iistrument-has. been .successiullin use and has Proved its. ability to perform ztheradial-play lrmeas-ureinent quickly and with a high degree of accuracy. .A single device-constructed as described .-has been used for a wide range of sizes and types of bearings, including so-called precisionbearings having the most strictradiahplayspecifications. Although myfinstrument has been ..described as lending itself to measurements with the test-bearing axis horizontahlhavefound that ior mostcases measurements. made with the test-bearing axis vertical are entirely satisfactory and consistent inthelatterleventi theloading axis will aloe-horizontal and the gravity compensator 184 is not necessary and may be shutsoff.

"i9 While I have describedtmy invention. inneqtail forathe preferred form shown, it :..will-be understood that modifications may be .:made within the scope of the invention as' defined in the appended claims;

.--Iclaim:

1. In a gage of the character indicated, a first gage member to be inserted within the inner ringof an assembled antifriction bearing, said member having an internal passage with orifice means facing radially predominantly toward .one side of the inner ring, a second member having an internal passage with orifice means :on an axis offset from and generally parallel with the axis of symmetry of said first orifice .means and oppositely directed withrespect to said first orifice means and means including a .probe radially spaced from said firstmember .and for contacting the outer bearing ring: and "responsive to outer bearing ring position'and for constricting said second orifice meansas the antifriction bearing is urgedalong said first axis in a direction away from said first orifice means i. U;

2. In a gage of the, character indicated for measuring overall radial play in an assembled iantifriction bearing including inner and outer :Jringsv spaced'by antifriction elements, a first ,gage membenincluding a cylindrical plug hav- -ing a radially directed opening to face the in- .ner ring of an assembled antifriction bearing .into which said plug is to-be inserted, said mem- "her having ase'c'ond opening on an axis spaced from but generally parallel to the axis of said first opening and facing in the opposite direction, a second gage member including a part in constricting opposition to said second openin and a part generally aligned with the axis of said first opening and poised for contact with the outer bearing ring, said members being displaceable relatively to each other generally along an axis substantially parallel to the axes of said openings, and fluid-conducting means communicating with both said openings.

3. A gage according to claim 2, in which said second member is annular and generally coaxial with the axis of said plug, the inner surface of said annular member being opposite said second opening, in which said second part includes a finger rigidly carried by said annular member and projecting to engage the outer bearing ring at a point generally aligned with the axis of said first opening, and adjustable means for adjustably positioning the contact part of said finger generally along the axis of said first openmg.

4. A gage according to claim 2, in which said first gage member includes a radially outwardly directed flanged portion spaced from the axis of said second opening, in which said second mem ber includes an annular ring generally coaxial with the axis of said plug and of said flange, and generally diametrically opposed resilient suspension elements between said flange and said ring, said suspension elements providing flexibility in the relative displacement of said ring and of said first member generally along the axis of said second opening.

5. In a gage of the character indicated, a gage block having a pair of opposed openings one of which is to be efiectively applied against the inner ring of an assembled antifriction bearing and the other of which is to react to the instantaneous location of a part of the outer ring of such bearing, loading means for reversibly urging the outer iio bearing ring generally along the axisofsaidfirst opening,'. said loading means including abridge -h'aving portions to engage generally diametrically opposed parts of theouter bearing ring, a doubleacting cylinder having a piston connected to urge Q said bridge generally parallel to the axis ofsaid first opening, a source of substantially constant fluid pressure for said cylinder, and reversing valve means for selectively applying said fluid pressure to either end of said cylinder, whereby a given loading force may be reversibly applied to the outer bearing ring,

6. In a gage for determining radial play in a bearing including inner-and outer bearing rings with interposed antifriction bearing members, orifice means,flmeans for loosely radially supporting one ring of an assembled bearing with said on ringpositioned to vary the constriction of said orifice upon radial movement'of said ring relatively to said orifice, a second-orifice means,

common pressure-fluid supply means *for both said orifice means, and means movable inaccord- "ance with radial movements of said second ring to vary the said second orifice in the sense oppo siteto that of said first orifice means for a given 'bearing'displacem'ent, and gage means connected to said pressure-fluid supply means to determine the pressures caused by-variations in said orifices.-

'7. In a gage device for measuring overall radial play in an assembled antifriction bearin includ-' ing inner and outer rings s paced'by antifriction jelements, a-centralplug'member to looselyfit being positioned to engage the outer bearing ring for selective movement of the outer bearing ring in each direction on said axis, whereby the inner bearing ring may be driven to a first position against said plug to produce a maximum clearance between said opening and the inner-ring bore, a second member fixed relatively to said plug member and having a gage opening on a diametrical axis generally parallel to said first axis but facing in the opposite direction to said first gage opening, said second gage opening being positioned to constitute a variable orifice in response to displacements of the outer bearing ring, fluid-pressure supply means communicating with said openings, and a pressure-metering connection communicating with said supply means, whereby upon driving the inner bearing ring against said plug in the opposite direction said second gage opening may be efiectively opened to a maximum extent while said first opening is constricted to a maximum extent, so that, upon supply of pressure fluid to said openings, gage flows may in said first position represent a particular factor and in said second position represent overall radial play in the bearing plus the same particular'factor.

8. In a gage device for measuring overall radial play in an antifriction bearing with antifriction elements assembled between inner and outer rings, central gage means fitting loosely within the bore of the inner bearing ring and having a gage opening radially facing a portion of the bore of the inner ring, further gage means including a first part fixed relatively to said central ga means and a second part movable toward and away from said first part, one of said parts having a gage opening facing the other of said parts,

whereby upon. relative movement ofii'said -pwnts saidsecondmentlonedugagenpenin'g milkbe effectively "varied, probe meansi associated; said second part-and mesponsive to displaeementsof siv-e :mea-ns' -communieating with said; supply means.

-9. tn a -gage-dewieeior.measmfingioveralla'adial play in an-antifrieti'on bearing with antiirietion elements assembled between. inner. and outer mingsfirsti ageumeans fitting loosely within/the hereof theiinner bearing and .ineludingv first '1 I measuring means radially adiaeentla portionnf the bore; of the inner. ring-,5 andtazesponsineupredominantly filo-movement 0fsaidportion madi'ally toward and-away immsaidifirsbgage aneanasec- \ondgage'means, inclnding afirst partfixedrelaltiv ely te-said first :g-age (means -andasecondepart movable toward and away from said pantis cond measuring. means responsive t0 .such-. .relatime movementof said-pants, probe means associated with-said seoondtpartandirespensive to -.displaeements of theouterbearingmingto causenppositesense responses for-saidilrst. andsecondmeasuring means for .a ggivenr bean'na displacement and thrthemneasuningrmeansdifferentially responsive to theresp onsesz'of said first 'andsecond'measuring means;

19. In; a. gage device; for." measuring overall radial play in an antifrictionI bearingwith.antifriction elements assembled betweeminner :and outer rings, a support means for radially loosely supporting the inner bearing1ring, first 'probe means including an: element radially adjacent a'rpoi'tion "of the bore: of the inner bearing ring and responsive to radial movement of 'the'timrer heaving ring, second probe-means including an element: radially adjacent a portion of the outer surface of the .outer' bearing ring and responsive to' nadi'almovement of the outer bearing ring on substantially the. same radial axis .as that coisaid first-mentioned radial movement, the responses 'oflsa-id probe means being of opposite .senseffnrsa given di-rectionadf bearing movement :on said axis,

and measuring means differentially responsiveto atne responseaof-bothsaid probeimeans.

HORACE BISHOP VAN :DOR'N;

References Cited in the file of this patent nnrrnn STATES PATENTS Nimiber Name Date 1,062,566 'Gohlke .et a1. .Ma y 20, 1913 1,971,271 Mennesson Aug. 21, I934 2,419,280 Nefi Apr. 22, 1947 2,431,014 Aller Nov. 18,, 1947 2,431,087 Subber Nov. 18, 1947 21438396 'Fox'et'al. Mar. 30,1948 

